episode_0009

[ Yuria’s Affection: 43 ]

[ Affection Level: 2 (An event is about to occur.) ]

[ Status: Tension, Possessiveness, Restraint, Agony, Anxiety. ]

-[ As the affection level has reached level 2, the status window is revealed. ]

==

Yuria

Species: Elder Vampire (SS)

[ Receives Last Survivor Bonus. ]

[ Receives Alpha Leader Status Increase Bonus. ]

—

Strength: Low-Mid (Max – High-Low)

Endurance: Low-Mid (Max – High)

Speed: Mid-Low (Max – Highest)

Mana: Mid-High (Max – Highest)

Talent: ???

Potential: Highest

——

Unique Trait: Innate Talent (EX) – Magic Formula Crafting (A+)

Unique Skill: Blood Magic (S)

Ultimate Skill: X

=

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at Yuria, who was seated. At 170cm, she had a remarkable stature for a woman. In such a body, proportions were crucial, and Yuria had no noticeable flaws from top to bottom. Simply put, she possessed an impeccable physique without any unattractive features.

Her skin showed no sign of change from its pure white hue, despite enduring strenuous tasks. The only blemishes were the marks located between her collarbone and around her neck.

“You look beautiful today, Yuria.”

“…Thank you, if my master is satisfied.”

Yuria, avoiding my gaze, replied as she placed her hand on mine. Lately, she seemed to be avoiding me more often, even evading eye contact.

It wasn’t that she had grown to dislike me. In fact, she had been informing me that her affection level towards me had increased.

“Ugh…”

I reached out to Yuria, and she accepted my hand without refusal. I gently touched her shoulder, which smoothly connected to her well-defined jawline. The space between her collarbones felt warm and soft. Combined with the typical tender texture and fragrance of a woman, it made me want to hold her involuntarily.

As I moved past her shoulder, I noticed her chest, which I had accurately measured last time. “Externally, it looked like an F-cup, but upon closer inspection, she was hiding a G-cup under compression bandages… definitely,” I thought.

My gaze must have affected her, as the way she delicately adjusted her collar only served to provoke me. It was probably an action meant to conceal herself. However, Yuria seemed unaware that covering herself slightly like this only made things more conspicuous. I released my hand from touching Yuria’s shoulder and reached out again towards her hair. It smelled fresh, like the night sky. It was the result of the shampoo made from herbs prepared by Harzen for the nobles. “She mentioned being a housekeeper. She must receive a hefty salary, but I should give her a gift.” Seeing how several maid uniforms were tailor-made, it seemed that there was a tendency to regard Yuria as his daughter. Harzen, due to his solitary nature in the setting, could also feel lonely emotions.

“Alright, get up now.”

“Yes, Master… Hah, I will assist you.”

She got up from the bed. She meticulously dressed herself in noble attire, just as she had been taught. Thanks to the one-on-one lessons with Harzen, Yuria could demonstrate a more aristocratic manner of speech and various behaviors even better than me. Conversely, her treatment and reception of me were also flawless.

Today was the day we would go for a nighttime walk with the housekeeper and Yuria. Rachel, concerned about me spending too much time in the mansion and only handling magical artifacts, had ordered this special measure.

“Well, it’s good to get some fresh night air.”

Now fully dressed, Yuria slipped out of my embrace. Looking into the mirror, I saw myself standing tall and neatly attired. The old butler, who had been gazing at me proudly, opened the door while stroking his white mustache.

…

“Hmm…”

The cold wind cooled my head. It was a refreshing breeze. In this breath of fresh air, if I continued to experience this invigorating feeling, could my incurable illness be cured in a momentary dream? It was a futile hope.

Before me lay an indescribably beautiful garden. Among them were several delicate flowers that required meticulous care. I heard that Yuria had personally instructed the maids on how to care for each of these. Among them, Yuria handed me a flower bud with blue petals that she had plucked.

“Once brewed, it is said to aid in the recovery of fatigue and vitality.”

“Oh? Let me have a try.”

Ian smoothly grasped the stem beneath the flower bud and took in its fragrance. He felt his breath calming even more.

Opening his eyes widely, Ian let out a sigh.

“I like it. What does the flower language say?”

“There isn’t one.”

“Hmm? It wasn’t created?”

“No, intentionally not. This flower can only be seen at night and isn’t well known among humans due to its habit of closing its buds quickly. If it were famous, it would be known as a vampire… a flower for vampires. It was planted here even before I arrived, but it’s famous as a refuge for ‘blood’ other than for humans, so much so that it’s called a means to suppress vampires. And getting back to the point, among vampires, this flower is referred to as ‘human.’”

“Interesting flower language.”

“It means the human lifespan is short, but nurturing it is difficult, and upon being reborn, it ruins surrounding plants. That’s what the flower language encompasses.”

The butler, who had been silently observing, couldn’t hide his interest and chuckled.

“Miss Yuria possesses remarkable knowledge. Even I, working in this mansion for 30 years, only learned about it today.”

“Thank you, Butler Harzen.”

“But where did you see the flower language that even I didn’t know? I don’t recall seeing it in any book…”

“When I was young, my mother used to sing me such fairy tale-like songs when she put me to bed. It’s been so long that I don’t remember it well, but it goes something like, ‘If you don’t close your eyes soon, Liquini’s ‘roots’ will devour all the red roses.’ Here, Liquini is the name of this flower, representing humans. And the red roses represent vampires. Perhaps it was a song my mother heard from the countryside.”

“Haha, that’s amusing.”

…

The point where the protagonist’s narrative begins is not far off now.

“Imperial Year 891, January 01.”

The recent days have been bustling at the Britna estate.

Returning to the mansion with the new year are the Viscount and his first son, Dylan.

A celebration is held to welcome their return. Various officials, departed souls, and several nobles seeking to establish connections attend the event. Notably, commoners with substantial wealth or significant influence in various circles are also invited.

“It’s quite a grand gathering.”

It’s a place where goods from various merchants will be displayed, where discussions about successors will arise, and where significant events converge—a starting point for the narrative.

An assassination attempt on Lady Brittna Carman.

Given the numerous high-profile assassinations at the event, I’ve recently diverted my attention not only to magical practices but also to other matters.

Initially, practicing magic every day seemed sufficient in minutes, and complex and challenging spells currently offer me little assistance.

What I need now is knowledge of the original to protect myself.

Most importantly, to protect Uria and safeguard Rachel from assassination attempts.

Also, to inform other officials and departed souls that I have changed and to restore my reputation using some of my magical skills and knowledge.

There won’t be many occasions in the future where a viscount or a renowned mage will come to the earl’s castle.

So, it was an event that absolutely could not be missed.

However, as if by coincidence, before the day’s events unfolded, a major incident occurred.

“Blood, blood…”

The first sign was Angelina, the daughter of Rupert, the head of the knights who had become my personal maid, bleeding.

As the daughter of a viscount, she couldn’t easily excel in various tasks like Uria, and she was overwhelmed from the start.

Finally, her hand was severely cut, and blood dripped heavily onto the floor.

To make matters worse, the one providing her education was Uria.

Ian, preoccupied with preparing for future events, hadn’t realized that 31 days had passed since his last bloodsucking.

“Ugh… ugh,”

The girl in front of him, tears streaming down her face, managed to stop the flowing blood as if she had turned on a tap.

She pleaded with a maid nearby to quickly bring a potion, but…

“…”

Her voice didn’t reach Uria.

The quiet glass filled with a forbidden liquid, causing the gold to swirl.

Instinctively rummaging through her belongings, Ian couldn’t find the handkerchief stained with Yuria’s blood, especially since she was wearing the new maid uniform prepared by Harzen.

Her hands trembled. The air felt like needles against her skin.

All sounds blocked out, only the sight and sweet scent of blood tempted her.

“Ha… Ha…”

Her steps moved slowly, different from usual, even stumbling.

Her room was already filled with blue flowers to suppress her vampiric impulses. She had instructed the maids to grow these flowers first. But now, even suppressing her instincts with flowers seemed impossible.

Unlike other vampires, the Elder Vampire, who inherited it in one millionth, and born with exceptional luck, had an even more severe bloodlust.

Yuria’s body wasn’t prone to extreme bloodlust, but due to her species’ nature, if she didn’t feed for ten days, she would enter a frenzy state. According to the Knights, an Elder Vampire who enters a frenzy state due to their exceptional blood magic has killed over thirty people. They gain the power to easily annihilate even a whole Knight Order. That’s why Elder Vampires are so feared.

Thanks to her talent as the final boss, Yuria could endure this using her superhuman mental strength for thirty days.

In the past, when she didn’t know the taste of blood, she briefly tasted ecstasy, which Ian’s neglect exacerbated.

This trio of disasters combined.

Yuria, in agony to the point of wanting to tear out her own heart, clutched her chest, staggered, and pressed her hand against the wall, leaving scars with her sharp nails.

“Ugh….”

Her forehead turned increasingly red, her pupils already glowing scarlet.

What followed was inevitable.

Torn wallpaper.

Yuria gasping for rough breaths.

And blood falling before her eyes.

The woman had no choice but to scream.